Talks over Philippines pay risk

More than 400 TSC staff working in Larbert and Greenock face the axe

Call centre bosses at TSC have met MSP Michael Matheson amid claims staff who refuse to move to the Philippines will not get redundancy payouts.

More than 300 workers at the Larbert-based call centre are set to lose their jobs after T-Mobile said it was moving the contract to Manila.

Staff had been told that unless they relocated they would only receive an "ex-gratia" or compensation payment.

Managers have insisted workers will not lose out financially in the deal.

Following the meeting, the Falkirk West MSP said he had been given assurances by the company that staff would receive a cash payout if they lose their jobs.

Transfer option

He said: "The company has given me assurances that any staff that have to be made redundant will receive the full redundancy payment that they would have been entitled to.

"This whole matter is purely a result of the Tupe 2006 regulation which basically says that because the contract with T-Mobile has been switched to the Philippines, staff are entitled to be able to transfer to that location.

"This prevents the company from being able to make the staff formally redundant."

Mr Matheson said TSC was in discussion with T-Mobile to resolve the issue.

The TSC contract with T-Mobile is due to end on 31 July and will affect 400 UK jobs, including 118 posts in Greenock.

Mr Matheson added that TSC was currently in last-minute talks with a new firm which could avoid the need for job losses.

The firm, which operates seven sites in Scotland and one at Dearne Valley in South Yorkshire, provides contact centre staff across the business sector.